Enjoy Opera

WHAT IS ENJOY OPERA?

Enjoy Opera is English National Opera’s discounted ticket scheme for state-funded school groups. It offers school groups the opportunity to attend ENO productions at the London Coliseum for only £8 a ticket. We hope you will be tempted to bring a group to our beautiful theatre in the heart of London’s West End.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Enjoy Opera is aimed at secondary state schools, as ENO’s 2014-15 repertoire is most suitable for that age group. However, we’re happy to discuss the scheme with primary schools and make recommendations for this age group where possible.

We also welcome home-schooled students accompanied by their parents/carers.

WHY ENO?

ENO is a creative and vibrant home for compelling, high-quality theatrical productions created by imaginative stage directors and designers from across the arts and performed by leading British and international artists.

All ENO productions are performed in English, making them accessible to English-speaking audiences

All Enjoy Opera seats are selected to have a good view of the surtitles, so no twist or turn of the plot goes unnoticed

HOW TO BOOK

WHICH PERFORMANCES ARE INCLUDED IN ENJOY OPERA?

View our 2014/15 season and find out further information about each production. Please note that the Enjoy Operascheme is for performances at the London Coliseum only. We offer all dates across performances except the first night.

OTHER SCHOOLS GROUPS

All other school groups should enquire through our groups sales by contacting 020 7845 9300 or emailing groupsales@eno.org

All information was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to alteration.

Before the Performance

Everybody gets more out of an opera performance if they have an understanding of the plot, characters, dramatic themes and music in advance. We offer various ways to help you prepare your pupils:

• You will find a wealth of information integrated within this site. Visit our ‘What’s On’ pages for excerpts of music, video insights from the people behind the scenes, recommended related productions, and press reviews.

• Remind students in advance about the conventions of attending an opera or theatre performance: the auditorium lights go out; patrons stay in their seats until the interval; the audience remains quiet throughout the performance except when applauding.

• Please remember that latecomers will not be admitted into the auditorium once the performance has started.

• Please make sure that you have sufficient staff to manage your pupils while at the London Coliseum. We recommend a ratio of between one to seven and one to 10, depending on the age and experience of the group.

• Please notify the Box Office well in advance of any pupils who may have mobility problems or require a private area to attend to ongoing medical issues.

At the London Coliseum

• When you arrive at the London Coliseum, we suggest that you arrange with your pupils to meet up at the Box Office in the Main Foyer, should they get separated from the main party or get lost within the building. The uniformed attendants situated throughout the Front of House (FoH) will assist or direct lost persons there.

• On each level there are front of house attendants; they will be able to answer any questions, show you the way to your seats, and direct you to the toilets and bars, or offer any additional assistance.

• Operas often finish very late; don’t forget this when planning transport following an evening’s performance. Timings are available on individual show pages.

Food and Drink

Intervals at ENO are usually just 20 minutes long (with a warning bell after 15) so there is not much time to get something to eat. We suggest that groups should have eaten in advance of the performance. If your pupils do leave at the interval to get food, please remind them that they need to be back in time for the start of the next act; otherwise, like other latecomers, they will not be able to return to their seats.

While here, you can buy ice-creams and pre-order soft drinks at the Bars on all levels, and water is always available.

In the Auditorium

Noisy groups during performances can distract both the performers and other members of the audience. Here are a few reminders to help avoid this occurring, plus other points to aid your group’s enjoyment of the performance and your visit to the London Coliseum:

• Turn off mobile phones, tablet computers and other electronic devices. Cameras should not be used in the auditorium.

• Noise, talking and fidgeting can be very distracting to other members of the audience.

• If groups are unacceptably noisy, they will first be warned and then, if necessary, asked to leave by front of house staff.

• Food and drink (other than water) are not allowed inside the auditorium. Sweets are OK, but sweet wrappings are noisy: unwrap them quietly or before the performance – or, best of all, save them for the interval. Crisps are banned!

• Remind groups to visit the toilets before the performance and during the intervals. Pupils should not leave the auditorium during a performance unless absolutely necessary and, like other members of the audience, will not be allowed back to their seat and will have to stand at the back.

• There are male and female toilets at all levels except the ground level, which has accommodation for disabled persons only.

• Any bags, coats, lunch boxes etc. brought into the London Coliseum must remain with you at all times. Do not leave any items unattended, as they may well cause a security situation resulting in the item(s) having to be removed from the public areas.

• There are numerous floor levels and stairways in the London Coliseum and consequently there is potential for trips and falls. Please wear sensible footwear for your visit and, once here, always use the handrails provided and look where you are treading. This is particularly important when there is subdued lighting in the auditorium.

• In the event of an accident, contact the nearest front of house attendant, who will arrange for a first aider to deal with the issue. Please co-operate with the first aider when obtaining details for the ENO Accident Report.

• ENO retains the right to exclude any individuals or parties who may be under the influence of alcohol.

• Evening performances and winter matinees often mean that your group will be leaving the building in the dark. Be aware that your party will be exiting onto a busy road and crowded streets while their vision is still adjusting to the change in lighting.

Should you experience any problems

Please do not hesitate to talk to a member of the FoH staff, if you have a problem or query during your visit; they will do their best to help.

Fire Evacuation

In the event of having to evacuate the building or any other emergency, you will be directed by either the Duty House Manager or Stage Manager, who will manage the process.

• Should the emergency occur prior to a performance or during an interval, you will hear an announcement via the Public Address system.

• Should the emergency occur during a performance, the performance will stop, the house lights will be brought up and the Duty House Manager will walk on stage and make an announcement.

• Depending on the situation, you will be asked either to leave the theatre by your nearest exit as directed by the FoH attendants or to remain seated inside the auditorium and await further instructions.

OrientationSt Martin’s Lane Front of House main entrance and exitMays Court Side exitsBrydges Place Side exitsBedfordbury Back of theatre (staff entrance only)